Rogowska, who watched the first set of the match on Rod Laver Arena, said Sabalenka's screeching was "up there (with the) highest I have seen".

Despite encountering opponent noise in her 11-year professional career, the 26-year-old wasn't aware there was a rule that covered excessive grunting.

"I don't know what the rules are," Rogowska said after her loss to Ukrainian teen Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday.

"Obviously, I have never had the feeling where I have to grunt as loud as that.

"I have never really heard an umpire say, 'hey, you have to tone it down'.

"As a player, you try and block that out the best you can, and Ash did a great job last night blocking that out. Credit to her."

The 2018 WTA handbook states: "Any continual distraction of regular play, such as grunting, shall be dealt with in accordance with the Hindrance Rule."

This by-law, rarely enacted and at the complete discretion of the umpire, results in the loss of a point if ruled deliberate.

As it stands, the WTA's latest position is that "grunting is a natural part of the game" and more of an issue for fans than players.

"It's important that we address their concerns," read a WTA statement, obtained by AAP on Wednesday.

"Excessive grunting is being addressed through a commitment to an ongoing educational outreach."

The issue of grunting has fallen off the radar over the past 12 months with arguably the tour's two biggest serial offenders, doping offender Maria Sharapova and new mum Victoria Azarenka, forced off the tour for an extended time.